"English!" the New York accented voice of Angie Martinelli pierced the automat dining room as soon as Peggy crossed through the door, held by Daniel.
Men looked up in annoyance from their diner meal, and women dressed in office attire looked up in disgust.
Peggy looked around humbly in embarrassment before Angie nearly tackled her with a hug, throwing her arms around Carter's neck, "Peg! Boy have I missed you, sister!"
"Yes. Angie. I have missed you too." Peggy managed with Angie pressed so tightly to her throat.
Suddenly, Angie broke the embrace, grasping Carter by the upper arms and looking her up and down with worried brown eyes, "My goodness! Didn't you eat in California? I mean I know it's hot and on a different time zone and all, but … look at you! You didn't go on one of those stupid Hollywood diets, didcha? Those things will kill you!"
Peggy laughed lightly for the first time in days and with great humor. It was as if a small ray of sunshine had broken through her dark clouds in her mind. Angie was sometimes her compass and her sense of humor when she needed it most. "No, no diet. Howard fed me very well. So did Mr. Jarvis."
"You didn't get into any 'trouble' didcha? You know. At that 'acting agency'?" Angie winked conspiratorially at Carter.
"No. Not really." As Peggy gave that bland comment, Angie finally noticed Daniel, standing discreetly apart but not too far from the ladies as they caught up.
"And who is this fine fellow? I think we've met!" Angie thrust out a hand to Sousa while giving another quick wink at Peggy.
"Daniel Sousa. We have met." Daniel shook her hand firmly and Angie gave him the eye too. No one was ever going to be good enough for her friend Peggy.
Beaming, Martinelli said, "Well, don't just stand here! Have a seat. I'll grab you something to drink. Earl Grey, English?"
"Yes, thank you Angie." Peggy said as she surveyed the restaurant for an empty booth that wasn't too close to anyone else.
"And you, Mr. Agent?" Angie said quietly, sliding up to Sousa.
Daniel wasn't sure how to react to the ebullient waitress, his voice shaking a bit, "Coke. Thanks."
"I'll be back in a jiff. I get a break in ten. Then we can all catch up." She smiled broadly at both of them, her neat brown curls bobbing with excitement.
"Hey, lady! I need a refill." An annoyed male voice called out. Martinelli grinned and then rolled her eyes, gliding off to the sound of the voice.
Peggy and Daniel moved to the booth at the back of the corner. Carter recalled vividly the large battle with SSR agents they had had here only a few short months ago. She was surprised the management didn't have a "Wanted" poster on the wall with her face on it for all the damage they caused.
Sitting, Sousa got comfortable and then glanced over at Angie, "Is she always that perky? I don't remember her well."
Carter smiled fondly looking at her friend pouring coffee for the grouchy customer, "Yes, but she is practicing her acting for her big break."
"Well, she'll break something with that personality. Not sure what it would be." Daniel remarked, his eyebrows raising.
Ten minutes whizzed by and Angie was there cozying up to Carter in the booth seat, the hot cup of Earl Grey steam curling between Peggy's hands. "So tell me all about it! Hollywood! The 'Acting agency'!"
The two agents looked uncertainly at each other and then Peggy inhaled to speak, "Before we get to that, how has living in Mr. Stark's mansion been?"
Angie's eyes lost a bit of shine and she replied in a muted voice, "It's nice an all. Mr. Stark is so swell to let me live there, but it's just kinda… big."
"Is that so?" Carter responded, folding her hand over Angie's.
"Well, it was great when it was the two of us!" Her tone brightened, "And even that silly butler, Jarvis? Was he in California too?" Daniel snorted a laugh and then sipped his coke.
"Yes. He was. I met his wife. She's a lovely lady. I think you and she would get a long famously." Peggy replied, her eyes warm.
"Yeah. Well, since you got your place here and then went to California, it's been a bit of a drag. No breaks. Nothing." Angie sighed.
"I'm truly sad to hear that, Angie." Peggy returned feeling genuinely disappointed for her friend.
"I know. It's ok." Angie brightened some trying not to be the debby downer, "And you got your job at the 'phone company' and all. It'd just be nice to get a break."
Carter looked at Daniel who was gazing off a bit watching the dining room come and go, "Daniel." He snapped back to her, "I have a horrible idea."
Sousa looked at Peggy and blanched slightly, "Oh. Oh no. No. Absolutely not."
"Why? She's got great people skills!" Carter pressed, "And if Rose can kick someone down, why can't Angie?"
"Well… I. Just." Daniel stopped midsentence, putting his finger down that he had raised to shake at Peggy, "She's a civilian. Look what happened to Anna Jarvis!"
Peggy did pause at the mention of that name. The shadow of Edwin's words suddenly blew up like a thunderstorm and a cold imaginary rain fell upon her, quenching her horrible idea. "Yes. Yes. You are right."
Martinelli, who was watching the whole exchange like a tennis match, interjected, "C'mon! I grew up with brothers! We're Italian. We know how to fight!"
The two SSR agents looked at each other again, "I think Daniel is right. Mrs. Jarvis was seriously injured this go-around. Do you remember Jack Thompson? From our incident at the Griffith?"
Angie thought for a moment, "The tall skinny one? Real Mr. Personality?"
"Yes. You cried into his chest, which is still some of the best acting I've ever seen." Carter recalled.
"Oh him. Yeah. What about him?" Angie asked carefully, noting the change in her friend's expressions to that of sorrow.
"Jack was killed. Murdered. Before he was supposed to return here." Daniel said quietly.
Angie's eyes opened wide, then narrowed, "Then let's go get the bums who did it!"
Carter smiled sadly at Angie's pluck and nerve, "We are working on it. But my idea of hiring you on is a misguided one at best. I'm sorry Angie. I'd love to help you."
Martinelli's eyes lost their sparkle again in disappointment, "It's ok English. I understand." She got up stiffly from the booth, "My break is over. I'll catch up with you later."
Peggy sadly watched her go back to work feeling like she did more harm than good tonight.
"You said the right thing. She'd just be a liability. You know in your heart, it's true." Daniel said taking Peggy's hand across the table. His touch was warm but it didn't take the chill off her heart. Looking at Daniel, she saw the handsome man she was falling for and his genuine concern for Angie.
Across the diner, a nicely but nondescriptly dressed man read a paper, his hands in thin black leather gloves. He heard every word and his mission was very clear: kill Peggy Carter and Daniel Sousa.